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Monday, July 24, 2017

The Light Opera of New Jersey has just ended their 22nd season with a spectacular presentation of Stephen Sondheim’s musical masterpiece, the dark-humored thriller, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Simply put-- this production isworthy of any stage, anywhere. It can be described with one word….WOW! Beyond the excellent cast and orchestra, the creative team is deserving of their own standing ovations, particularly Jeffrey Fiorello, one of our finest directors. Jeffrey is a very talented performer, but his directing credits have been consistently outstanding, LONJ’s 2015 ‘A Little Night Music ‘ for example. Also, Stephen Fox for music direction, Samantha Hahn Simpson for choreography; Pamela Wilczynski ringmaster (stage manager) and Bill Corson producer. Bill and his wife, Lauran Corson are the driving force behind the LONJ. Bill is the company’s Executive Director, and Lauran is the Artistic Director. Bill is also a member of the ensemble…. he makes a terminal exit at the hands of Todd.

The plot: Returning from exile, Benjamin Barker arrives in London under the name of Sweeney Todd in order to exact his revenge on the judge who exiled him in order to steal his wife. Todd resumes his old residence in his barber shop over the meat pie establishment of Mrs. Lovett. A competing barber, Adolfo Pirelli, recognizes Todd and threatens to reveal him to the authorities, causing Sweeney to kill Pirelli in a rage. When Mrs. Lovett discovers the body, she proposes disposing of it through her meat pies as she hasn’t been able to afford real meat for weeks. Todd and Lovett continue to plot together, throats are slit, and business begins to flourish! This is clearly not ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Barber!’

Now the outstanding lead performers, Ken Garcia as Sweeney Todd and Julie Galorenzo as Mrs. Lovett (top photo and right). They both nailed their parts. Superior voices, excellent acting. Garcia was properly threatening as the demon of Fleet Street. Would he not be terrific as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables? Julie Galorenzo could easily make you forget Angela Lansbury’s TONY turn in the role. Her Mrs. Lovett can be sweet and even generous when needed, but always with an indefinable sinister element. She is amusing with her ‘By The Sea’ solo, and nicely maternal with the duet with Tobias ‘Not While I’m Around.’ Both Garcia and Galorenzo gave WOW performances.

Playing Anthony Hope, the sailor friend of Sweeney Todd, is the also impressive Shane Long. He is perfect as the unwelcomed suitor for Todd’s daughter Joanna (and ward of the evil Judge Turpin). His ‘Joanna’ solo is a first act highlight.

The supporting players, all beautifully cast, are: Ruth Kenote, she has fun as the Beggar Woman; Charles Schneider is the nasty, quick to hang Judge Turpin who desires Joanna; Joseph Hill is a delight as the Beadle. He has a fun turn with Mrs. Lovett with ‘Parlor Songs’ in the second act; Caitlin Alongi is a lovely, fine voiced Joanna; Thomas Carey Gsell is most impressive with his exuberate sales pitch for Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir and the aforementioned ‘Not While I’m Around’ with Mrs. Lovett; Frank Hughes has great fun as Pirelli, who earns a close shave by Todd; Will Carey is fine as Jonas Fogg.